St Leger Doncaster Saturday September 13, 2014
By David Baxter
Racing Post Sunday September 14.
“Given frustrated by ‘petty’ stewards. "
“TRAINER James Given was left to rue the “incredibly petty” decision that resulted in his Ladbrokes St Leger hopeful Odeon being withdrawn by order of stewards by waiting to be loaded into the stalls.
“Rider Graham Lee was informed by starter Hugh Barclay that Odeon would not be allowed to run because his mount was still sporting an undeclared hood that Given had put on the horse in order to keep him calm during the preliminaries.
“ Given, who was fined £140, said: “I’m not absolving myself of responsibility and ignorance is not an excuse. However, my frustration is due to the fact I talked through my plans, move by move, with a stipendiary steward seven to ten days ago and no objection were raised.
“As we were leaving the paddock that same stipendiary steward , who I won’t name as it would just be my word against his, told me to, “Get that hood off” , but he didn’t say not to do so would result in withdrawal. I told him I couldn’t because the lip chain was on the outside of the hood.
“The owner [Alex Owen] is distraught. It seems such an incredibly petty thing to have happened as I wasn’t seeking any material advantage over my rivals. “
“BHA head of stewarding Paul Barton said: “The rule is absolutely clear. Your not allowed to go to the start in headgear that is not declared for the race. A couple of years ago we allowed trainers to put a hood on in the parade ring, but it must be removed before leaving the parade ring. “
“As a goodwill gesture, William Hill refunded all anti-post bets on Odeon.”
J Margaret Clarke Turfcall Factfile
PRE - ST LEGER DONCASTER 2014
British political, legal, racecourse and horseracing government committed a Criminal Act yesterday when they ordered that Odeon could not take part in the 2014 St Leger. Was stopped from entering the starting stalls because of government dark age cruel bloodhorse illiterate rules. False Rules that do not belong in any of the global horseracing countries.
No one can be considered to be held under any of the British rules of bloodhorse literate horseracing because there are none.
What about the costs in not only money, but in highly skilled time to prepare Odeon for this race, what happens about these costs to the owner Alex Owen? What happens about Graham Lee’s riding fee? What happens about the travelling expenses?
BBC1 BREAKAST THIS WEEK
The Olympic Blade Runner
J Margaret Clarke Turfcall Comment
Ask yourself should Oscar Pistorius be having to go through the further trauma of these heartless slow dark age court procedures?
Ask yourself, would you feel vulnerable if you had both your legs cut off ? How would living through an experience like that effect you yourself? What exactly are these court procedures hoping to achieve ... to smash to smithereens an already broken life?
Considerations of living in the South African environment? What are they?
